Chemicals to cost US$1 billion by 1993

By 1993 almost $1 billion will be spent annually on about 10 billion pounds of chemicals and materials by Canadian and U.S. mining operations. This will be an increase of almost 37% over 1988, and on a poundage basis, up a total of 16%, reports New Jersey-based Hochberg and Company Inc. There has been a resurgence in the mining of important industrial and precious metal minerals in both countries for the past few years, notes the fourth marketing-technical study recently released by Hochberg, titled Mining Industry Chemical Opportunities — United States and Canada, IV. This trend is expected to continue over the coming years.

Chemicals are used to extract, separate, improve and transport ores. Chlorine and cyanide detoxifiers, leaching agents, frothers, petroleum distillates and depressants are among the most important chemicals consumed, says the report. It also notes that new chemicals are needed to reduce toxic substances in aqueous discharges and to recover mineral particles in the tailings.

Canadian and U.S. copper mines are the largest users of chemicals, on a poundage basis, both in the flotation as well as in the solvent extraction circuits. Other major chemical consumption areas were in bauxite-alumina processing, and iron, gold and silver mining.

The following table gives 1993 projected chemical expenditures for mining in Canada and the U.S. 0610,0408,0000 Ore Expenditures (in US$ millions) silver/gold 286 bauxite-alumina 215 copper 163 coal 97 iron 89 phosphate 50 lead/zinc 41 potash, nickel

molybdenum 54 Total 995